Four senior appointments deepen compliance and digital capability as the peak body's fresh executive duo begins reshaping operations
The Finance Brokers Association of Australia (FBAA) has made four senior executive appointments, broadening its leadership bench as new chief executive Leo Gagic and independent chair Nick Sherry settle into their roles.
The moves add depth across compliance, digital innovation, commercial strategy and financial management as the broker advocacy body – which represents more than 14,000 members nationwide – prepares for what it describes as its next phase of growth.
New CFO and compliance lead appointed
Cara Haward (pictured, right), a CPA-qualified senior finance executive, has been appointed chief financial officer, taking charge of the FBAA's financial strategy. She brings extensive experience leading finance functions and guiding commercial decision-making across complex Australian businesses.
Nancy Sundar (pictured, left) has been appointed head of quality assurance and compliance, a newly created role overseeing the FBAA's compliance and professional standards framework. She carries more than 19 years of experience in governance, risk, compliance and information security across highly regulated industries, according to the association.
FBAA chief executive Leo Gagic said the appointments reflect a deliberate investment in the association's future. "It is critical that the FBAA continues to invest in the people, systems and capabilities that will support our members.”
Digital and commercial roles expand
Two existing FBAA leaders have also been elevated into expanded executive positions.
Kirrily Jones, previously general manager of operations, has been appointed chief digital and innovation officer, leading the association's digital transformation agenda.
Joanna James, formerly chief development officer and a former general manager at non-bank lender Mortgage Ezy, has moved into the newly created role of chief commercial officer, overseeing commercial strategy and partnerships.
Gagic said their combined expertise “will enhance our ability to advocate for brokers”.
Fresh leadership at the top
The executive expansion comes as Gagic and Sherry embed themselves in their own new roles at the top of the association.
Gagic, a former Telstra finance executive who most recently led debt-collection firm Access Mercantile, and Sherry, a former federal minister with close to four decades of government experience, both started at the FBAA on the same day and have described the transition as closely aligned. Their appointments followed Peter White's resignation as managing director after 23 years leading the association, and the earlier departure of former chairman Brett Spencer.
Since taking the helm, Gagic’s focus has been on listening rather than restructuring. In an interview with MPA, Gagic said he was working through what he called an extensive discovery phase before shaping the association's future direction.
The executive shake-up is likely to be watched closely by the FBAA's broker membership, given the scale of change atop an association that has spent more than two decades under a single managing director.
